Cleveland Museum of Art

Leaf Excised from a Book of Hours: Decorated Initial H

Masters of the Zwolle Bible

Date

c. 1470–1480

Medium

ink, tempera, and gold on vellum

Culture

North Netherlands, Zwolle(?), 15th century

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The difficulty in localizing Dutch manuscripts of the second half of the 15th century is formidable. Many shared or exchanged characteristics are found, particularly in terms of page layout, border decoration, and initial design. The present leaf contains borders embellished with brightly colored flowers (columbines) and acanthus leaves filled in with gold bezants, tiny green leaves, and little black dots. Though different in palette, these elements bear closest resemblance to borders and initials produced by a group of artists associated with the Zwolle Bible (Utrecht, Universiteitsbibliotheek, MS. 31). The original illuminators are believed to have worked within the Monastery of the Canons Regular at Agnietenberg. This leaf is painted in an associated style by an artist who must have been familiar with the Zwolle group.

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